Ive got a little page on facebook mainly to stop my hundreds of horsey updates ending up on my profile so much and non horsey friends getting the hump. I keep my photos on my profile just the longer descriptions more on my page lol! Means those that care can look there and those that don't won't!
So here's my Em's equines diary too
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First day off shift yesterday. I am over the moon with Bea. Finally I can notice a difference in her weight. She finally looks "full". She'd retained the slightly tucked up look to her up until this week. A couple of comparison photos of when we first got her at the beginning of the year to now...
The breaking livery had her first little session as well.
She's quite a confused little soul. From what I can gather from her behaviour she's spent a lot of time feeling like she needs to be boss of humans, horses etc. But from her body language when you're doing some things she's not really got that much confidence in herself. She puts on a huge bravado. She's got a stroppy side to her and has learnt she can push a human around with her own body so we've worked on some spacial awareness between us. She only trod on my heel once.
The girl said she was frightened of whips so I had promised to do some desensitising with her with them so I showed her the whip, no reaction, rubbed it over etc no reaction.
She's not frightened of it, obviously I don't know what her experience of a whip is but she doesn't like a lunging whip flicked towards her to send her forwRd and half heartedly kicks out at it. The girl has mistaken this for her being frightened and subsequently the mare has learnt to use this against her and now spins on the lunge lol!
Having played about like this with her and learning a bit more about the mare and what she's about I've got a few things up my sleeve to try with her. Namely taking her right back to basics and starting over to try and teach her some good foundations. From what her owner has told me I think the little mare has been taught a few things in a not very clear way, moved yards and been taught things differently. Started to get unsure and brought on this big front to hide her insecurities which has resulted in her getting the upper hand and learning to use her body against her owners.
She's very up front with you. There's no hiding what she's about. It's not going to be a simple breaking in but the owner is happy for it to take as long as necessary. She's just pleased the mare is out in a herd more than anything. The herd are doing their usual wonderful job of sorting out a few of her manners for me and she's definitely a lot more chilled than when she first arrived. We haven't had any face pulling and her owner arrived yesterday and noticed she didn't even try and look for treats, was just greatful for some fuss from them. Apparently that's much nicer than being mugged when ever she sees them.
Then to finish off the evening we had a short hack round the stubble fields and had a lovely ride. Jim is still being a little naughty and bucking occasionally on the stubble but his rider is starting to see the signs of him about to do it and stopping him before he's done it. We only had one rather large buck but still only one. Better than one every canter lol!
It's great having the girls this year, especially my stepmum about more. She brought her new boy down to drive for the first time since she got him and she was so pleased with him. It's lovely to have her out with us on her cob too. She's got quite bad arthritis and didn't think she would ride again so now drives mostly. This year has seen her return to the saddle though after losing a bit of weight and feeling better. She still has to dose up on her tablets before she rides but she's not hurting afterwards too much which is brilliant.
It's only February and this years shaping up to be one of the best yet.
Here's the stepmum and her new pony Dave!
So here's my Em's equines diary too
. First day off shift yesterday. I am over the moon with Bea. Finally I can notice a difference in her weight. She finally looks "full". She'd retained the slightly tucked up look to her up until this week. A couple of comparison photos of when we first got her at the beginning of the year to now...
The breaking livery had her first little session as well.
She's quite a confused little soul. From what I can gather from her behaviour she's spent a lot of time feeling like she needs to be boss of humans, horses etc. But from her body language when you're doing some things she's not really got that much confidence in herself. She puts on a huge bravado. She's got a stroppy side to her and has learnt she can push a human around with her own body so we've worked on some spacial awareness between us. She only trod on my heel once
. The girl said she was frightened of whips so I had promised to do some desensitising with her with them so I showed her the whip, no reaction, rubbed it over etc no reaction.
She's not frightened of it, obviously I don't know what her experience of a whip is but she doesn't like a lunging whip flicked towards her to send her forwRd and half heartedly kicks out at it. The girl has mistaken this for her being frightened and subsequently the mare has learnt to use this against her and now spins on the lunge lol!
Having played about like this with her and learning a bit more about the mare and what she's about I've got a few things up my sleeve to try with her. Namely taking her right back to basics and starting over to try and teach her some good foundations. From what her owner has told me I think the little mare has been taught a few things in a not very clear way, moved yards and been taught things differently. Started to get unsure and brought on this big front to hide her insecurities which has resulted in her getting the upper hand and learning to use her body against her owners.
She's very up front with you. There's no hiding what she's about. It's not going to be a simple breaking in but the owner is happy for it to take as long as necessary. She's just pleased the mare is out in a herd more than anything. The herd are doing their usual wonderful job of sorting out a few of her manners for me and she's definitely a lot more chilled than when she first arrived. We haven't had any face pulling and her owner arrived yesterday and noticed she didn't even try and look for treats, was just greatful for some fuss from them. Apparently that's much nicer than being mugged when ever she sees them
.
Then to finish off the evening we had a short hack round the stubble fields and had a lovely ride. Jim is still being a little naughty and bucking occasionally on the stubble but his rider is starting to see the signs of him about to do it and stopping him before he's done it. We only had one rather large buck but still only one. Better than one every canter lol!
It's great having the girls this year, especially my stepmum about more. She brought her new boy down to drive for the first time since she got him and she was so pleased with him. It's lovely to have her out with us on her cob too. She's got quite bad arthritis and didn't think she would ride again so now drives mostly. This year has seen her return to the saddle though after losing a bit of weight and feeling better. She still has to dose up on her tablets before she rides but she's not hurting afterwards too much which is brilliant.
It's only February and this years shaping up to be one of the best yet
.
Here's the stepmum and her new pony Dave!
